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The first broadcast full-length episode of The Simpsons, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, was written by cartoonist Mimi Pond - but she never returned to pen another instalment.

In a recent interview with Jezebel, the illustrator opened up about why this was, and about how her experience on the much-loved animated show was both short-lived, and, for her, "not pleasant".

After meeting Matt Groening though a friend of her husband's, Pond was invited by him, along with other cartoonist pals, to write an episode.

"When I wrote an episode, I wrote it and it just happened to air as the first one because they were behind schedule," she said.

"I was never invited to be on staff, and I never knew why for the longest time. No one ever called me or explained to me or apologised or anything."

The Simpsons

"And it wasn’t until years later that I found out that Sam Simon, who was the showrunner, didn’t want any women around because he was going through a divorce. It had remained a boys’ club for a good long time. I feel like I was just as qualified as anyone else who came along and got hired on the show, and it was just because I was a woman that I was, you know, not allowed entry into that club."

"I always wind up being the turd in the punchbowl because the show is so beloved and everything, and I’m sorry to burst bubbles but," she added with a laugh, "it wasn’t a pleasant experience for me."

Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire was first broadcast on December 17, 1989. An appropriately Christmas-themed episode, it shows Homer losing out on his Christmas bonus and moonlighting as a shopping mall Santa, and Bart getting himself a tattoo.

After realising they can no longer afford Christmas presents (Marge spends the family budget getting Bart's tattoo removed), they decide to head to the dog tracks, betting on the dog Santa's Little Helper - who comes in last.

All works out well, however, after they decide to adopt the unlucky greyhound, making him their new Christmas present.

It was later nominated for two Emmys, and described by The Los Angeles Times as "Easily the the best, cleverest and nuttiest arrival of the 1989-90 season".